Our Lord mandated the Church to make disciples of all believers (Matt. 28:18-20).
Our Lord mandated the Church to make disciples of all believers (Matt. 28:18-20). We take this as our ultimate goal as a church, desiring to “present every man complete in Christ” (Col. 1:28). With this as our objective, the involvement of every member in the church’s program of discipleship is indispensable.
The Pillar
We maintain that the test of a congregation, apart from the personal holiness of its members, is based on how effectively those same members are penetrating the world with the Gospel. In many churches, members are not well trained and are ignorant of what Christ has commanded believers to do. As a result their professed beliefs and behavior are not congruent.
The Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20 calls for three vital actions— going, baptizing and teaching. “Going” is a circumstantial participle that could be understood to mean, “As you are going.” This command simply underscores the point that reaching the world is not for the sedentary.
Therefore, as the believer goes through life, whether he travels from place to place or lives a localized life, he maximizes opportunities to share the Gospel to the lost (Acts 8:4).
The important actions of “baptizing” and “teaching” qualify the main command action of the text. Baptizing converts requires that new believers make a public profession of faith (Acts 2:38). Teaching others to obey covers a broad spectrum of the Christian experience. Its essential thrust is to bring people Scriptural truths that will guide them in their beliefs and practice (Acts 2:42).
The imperative command of the Great Commission is “make disciples.” This is the formula for evangelizing the world and the methodology required to bring reproduction and multiplication to world missions. By specifically commanding the making of disciples, Jesus specified the work of the Church.
It must be emphasized that Christ did not merely say, “Make converts”. Being a convert or a Christian does not necessarily lead to reproduction. Sadly, many believers are spiritually sterile. They do not bring the Gospel cause forward, and they fail to reproduce themselves in the life of others. But a true disciple is healthy and godly and endeavors to reproduce himself. Therefore, disciples and the Biblical disciple-making process solve the crisis at the heart of the church. This is God’s plan for His Body.
At minimum, a disciple publicly affirms his conversion through baptism, and submits to the authority of the leaders of the local church by being taught. He makes himself available for training; he understands the virtue of accountability; he devotes himself to a lifetime of learning.
The Practice
Disciple-making in the church happens in three primary settings: the large group, the small group and the one-on-one. The Scripturally-ordained tool of the large group is the preaching of the Word particularly during the Lord’s Day. (The large group may also be ministered unto by doctrinally-sound film, music, and drama. We must stress however that these methods can never replace the primacy of preaching.) The large group method is utilized in worship services, prayer meetings, retreats, activities of special fellowships and demographically-defined groups and short-term training classes.
The small group trains people by instructing them, showing them how and doing it with them. This method of discipling is undertaken primarily in the discipleship cells. It is supplemented with short-term training classes, participation in ministry-related and demographically-defined groups. Believers need basic skills in studying Scripture to obey it and to allow it to renew their minds, Biblical prayer, sharing one’s life with others in the church, and communicating the message of Christ. The controlled environment of the small group can teach and measure the development of these skills. (This form of discipleship also includes one-on-one dynamics or Biblical counseling with every group member—for specific instruction, correction, reproof and training.)
The one-on-one method provides a great deal of precise discipling, particularly when supplemented by homework arising out of the disciple’s life situations and problems and the reading of good, Scriptural books. This method has helped countless people in growing spiritually, and in motivating them to church involvement and ministry in ways no sermon or exhortation can. The keys to the effectiveness of this method are: the Christ like love and shepherding skill of the discipler and the openness, faithfulness and willingness to submit of the disciple. Hence, only individuals who have been properly trained by the Church, are recognized as possessing the necessary gifts, and have been given permission by the leadership will be allowed to undertake this ministry.
Serving in the church is a natural outcome of the discipleship process. Scripture tells us that Jesus taught the disciples to be servants (Matt. 20:25-28). Both by precept and example the Scriptures call on all believers who would be disciples of the Lord to be His servants. The dynamics of discipleship are therefore realized as members commit themselves to various avenues of service in the church.
Effective discipleship can only be undertaken by the church in a context of accountability. It actually provides the individual and the church with the essential discipline and support to reach godly goals. Accountability is necessary because Christians are self-willed. When a system and culture of accountability are properly established in the church, they will facilitate spiritual growth, maintain godliness among the members of the body, and rid the church of people who would pollute, destroy, and bring shame to the name of Christ (Tituss 3:10; 1 Tim. 5:15,19).
The Parameters
The discipler must recognize that he is merely an instrument of God’s grace and that it is God alone who can sovereignly transform the disciple’s life.
The discipler must use his God-given influence in ways consistent with the Word of God for the purpose of accomplishing God’s will in the disciple’s life. The discipling relationship should not be used to give the discipler undue control over the disciple. Neither should it result in idolatrous emotional dependence, nor be used for sordid gain.
On the other hand, the disciple must recognize that the discipler is God’s appointed under shepherd in his life.
To uphold blamelessness, we underscore the importance of limiting accountability relationships to people of the same gender. In exceptional cases where the discipler is constrained to minister to a person of the opposite sex, he or she must involve a third party of the same gender as the disciple and must work to disengage from the accountability relationship as quickly as the Lord will allow.